UNRAID Drive Change Question

[ChrisLoudon]

Hi guys,

 

Just thought I'd check in here first to make sure I've go this right.

 

Got a drive in my Unraid array that's throwing some SMART errors so gonna change it soon so wanted to make sure the following steps were correct:

 

1. Stop Array

2. Unassign offending drive from the array

3. Turn Off PC

4. Remove Offending Drive

5. Install new drive (same or larger capacity than drive being replaced but not larger than largest parity drive)

6. Boot System

7. Assign new drive to array

8. Wait for array to be rebuilt.....

 

Is that about it?

 

Also, during the process of switching out the faulty drive, can I change things up a bit?

 

My array is as follows:

 

8TB - Parity

6TB - Parity

4TB - Storage (faulty)

4TB - Storage

4TB - Storage

2TB - Storage

1TB - Storage

1TB SSD - Cache

 

I was thinking it might be a good time to move the the 6TB from parity into 'storage' effectively using that drive to replace the failing 4TB drive an replace with an 8TB + drive.

 

Can I do this is one swoop? 

 

[skimmilk5]

I would not do this in one swoop. I'd rebuild the array fully, first. Right now, you're in a vulnerable state, and you want to get out of that vulnerable state as soon as you can to lessen the chance of losing data. Because both your 6TB and 8TB drives are being used for parity, removing one with an already failed drive will result in all of the data on your failed drive being lost.

 

As to the steps you've outlined to replace a drive, your procedure is correct.

[ChrisLoudon]

12 hours ago, skimmilk5 said:

I would not do this in one swoop. I'd rebuild the array fully, first. Right now, you're in a vulnerable state, and you want to get out of that vulnerable state as soon as you can to lessen the chance of losing data. Because both your 6TB and 8TB drives are being used for parity, removing one with an already failed drive will result in all of the data on your failed drive being lost.

 

As to the steps you've outlined to replace a drive, your procedure is correct.

Thanks for the info.

 

Would it be possible to follow the following steps to avoid buying a 4TB drive again? I'm keen to start increasing the size of the array by replacing every faulty drive from now on with a 8TB.

 

1. Stop Array

2. Unassign offending 4TB drive from the array

3. Unassign 6TB drive from Parity (leaving 8TB drive for single parity)

4. Turn Off PC

5. Remove Offending Drive (4TB)

6. Boot System

7. Assign 6TB drive to storage array

8. Wait for array to be rebuilt.....

 

This will leave me with only single parity which I intend on making double parity with another 8TB drive sometime soon.

 

As each older drive fails, I can then swap out with 8TB drives to slowly increase my storage capacity.